Strong Pitching Helps Nittany Lions Split Twinbill At Northwestern

EVANSTON, Ill.  – The Penn State baseball team split its doubleheader at Northwestern on Saturday, winning 4-1 in game two after dropping a tight game one, 5-4.
 
The Nittany Lions are now 12-16 overall and 3-5 in Big Ten play. Northwestern is now 13-13 overall and 3-2 in conference action.
 
Penn State's pitching staff tallied 25 strikeouts over 18 innings. In game two, Kellan Tulio recorded a career-high seven strikeouts in five innings, while Travis Luensmann closed out the game with four shutout innings and struck out six. In game one, Jaden Henline and Tyler Shingledecker each posted six strikeouts.
 
The Nittany Lions hit three homers in game one as Johnny Piacentino, Josh Spiegel and Matt Wood each launched solo shots.
 
In game two, Jay Harry had three hits and scored two runs, while Billy Gerlott had a two-run single.
 
The Nittany Lions conclude the series against the Wildcats on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for noon ET.
 
The 2022 Penn State baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
 
Game 1:
Jaden Henline made his second start of the year for the Nittany Lions. Henline tied a career high with six strikeouts while going 4.1 innings. He allowed three runs on five hits and one walk.
 
Tyler Shingledecker finished the fifth inning and pitched through the eighth inning, going 3.2 frames. He allowed one run on two hits and a walk, while striking out six. Shingledecker struck out the side in the eighth. Steven Miller entered the game in the ninth, allowing one run on three hits.
 
Sean Sullivan started on the mound for Northwestern, throwing five innings. He allowed a season-high eight hits and four runs (three earned). Sullivan recorded four strikeouts and no walks. Coby Moe entered the game in the sixth, pitching the final four innings. He gave up two hits and struck out eight.
 
Penn State collected four runs on 10 hits. Johnny Piacentino went three-for-four, including a solo homer in the third. Josh Spiegel blasted a solo homer as part of a two-hit, two-run day. Matt Wood added a solo homer, while C.J. Pittaro had two hits.
 
Northwestern registered five runs on 10 hits. Anthony Calarco led the Wildcats with four hits, including two doubles and a two-run homer, tallying three RBI. Ethan O'Donnell had a double and scored three runs.
 
The Nittany Lions got on the board in the first inning. Back-to-back singles by Spiegel and Piacentino, with two outs, set up runners on the corners for Jay Harry. The sophomore shot a ground ball to the shortstop, who mishandled it, allowing Spiegel to cross the plate. Penn State led 1-0 after one.
 
Northwestern tied the game in the bottom of the second. After an infield single by Andrew Pinkston and a double to right by Ruben Fontes, a sac fly to center by Tony Livermore sent home Pinkston.
 
The Nittany Lions answered with two runs in the third. Wood sent the first pitch of the inning on a line drive over the wall in right. Two batters later, Piacentino blasted a fly ball over the fence in left. Penn State led 3-1.
 
Northwestern tied the game in the bottom half of the inning on a two-run homer to center by Anthony Calarco, which followed a leadoff double by Ethan O'Donnell.
 
Penn State re-took the lead in the fifth. With two outs, Spiegel sent the first pitch of his at-bat over the wall in right for a solo homer. The opposite field shot put the blue and white ahead, 4-3.
 
Northwestern tied the game in the seventh. After a walk drawn by O'Donnell, Calarco lined a ball into the gap in right-center for a double to score O'Donnell. The teams were even at 4-4 going into the eighth.
 
The Wildcats won the game in the ninth. With one out, JC Santini singled to left. After a fielder's choice by O'Donnell, Calarco sent a single to right to put runners on the corners. Jay Beshears lined an 0-1 pitch to left to drive in O'Donnell for the walk-off run.
 
Game 2:
Kellan Tulio got the start for the Nittany Lions, going five innings. Tulio allowed one run (unearned) on just two hits. He struck out a career-high seven batters and walked four.
 
Travis Luensmann took over on the mound in the sixth inning, earning a four-inning save. The sophomore threw four shutout frames, giving up three hits. Luensmann struck out six batters, including all three he faced in the ninth.
 
Michael Farinelli made the start on the mound for Northwestern. Farinelli went eight innings, giving up two runs on seven hits and striking out one. David Utagawa came on in the ninth inning, allowing two runs.
 
Penn State scored four runs on 10 hits. Jay Harry had three base knocks and scored two runs. Billy Gerlott hit a two-run single in the ninth, while C.J. Pittaro had an RBI sinlge. Matt Wood collected two hits and scored a run.
 
Bennett Markinson had two of the Wildcats' five hits. Anthony Calarco had a hit and scored a run.
 
The Wildcats scored the game's first run in the fourth. Calarco led off the inning with a single to right. A walk drawn by Jay Beshears and Markinson reaching on an error loaded the bases. Two batters later, Luke Tanner hit a ground ball that resulted in a fielder's choice and Calarco scoring from third. Northwestern led 1-0 after four.
 
The Nittany Lions responded with two runs in the fifth. Harry reached on a leadoff infield single. Pittaro then shot a line drive to the corner in left as Harry came around to score. Pittaro moved up to third on a wild pitch before a single up the middle by Steele allowed Pittaro to cross the plate. Penn State held a 2-1 advantage.
 
Northwestern threatened to tie the game in the seventh. With a runner on second and one out, JC Santini sent a line drive to right field for a single. Penn State rightfielder Gerlott played it on a hop and fired a throw to home to Wood to cut down Tony Livermore attempting to score. A strikeout from Luensmann closed out a scoreless inning to keep Penn State ahead, 2-1.
 
The Nittany Lions extended their lead in the top of the ninth. Wood sent a groundball into center for a leadoff single. With two outs, Harry singled on a line drive to left, putting runners on first and second. A walk drawn by Pittaro loaded the bases for Gerlott, who dropped a single into left to plate Wood and Harry. Penn State held a 4-1 lead.